A (new). This is the new answer, you can read the old answer below if you wish.

As of the 1.7.9 update to Stick Nodes, you no longer need an external tool to get your stickfigures imported. On iOS, you can directly open stickfigures from Safari, emails, etc… On Android, the Stick Nodes app automatically scans your /download/ folder for any NODES, STKNDS, STK, and MP3 files.

If you have iOS 8 or older, this may not work for you. You will then have to follow the below instructions, or preferably update iOS to 9 or 10 if possible.

A (old). This is probably the most common question I get – how to get downloaded stickfigures into the app. The instructions depend on if you’re using Android or iOS.

For Android users, first download the stickfigure file(s) you want to your device. Now you’ll need a file-manager app, I personally use FX File Explorer. Open that up and navigate to your /download/ folder (or wherever your device saves downloaded files). From there, copy the downloaded stickfigure file(s) and paste them in the /Stick Nodes/stickfigures/ directory. After that, you’re done – just open up Stick Nodes and import the stickfigures like normal.

For iOS users, it’s a bit more involved due to how Apple handles file security. Don’t bother downloading the files on your device! Use your Mac/PC to download the stickfigure file(s). Now, connect your device to your Mac/PC and open iTunes. Navigate to the Apps tab, and scroll down to the File Sharing section. Click “Stick Nodes” on the left (or “Stick Nodes Pro”) and click the Add… button to add the stickfigure file(s) you just downloaded. After that, you’re done – just open up Stick Nodes and import the stickfigures like normal.

Q. How do use a pack (ZIP file)?

A. For Android users, download it and then use an app like FX File Explorer to go to your /Download/ folder and tap the ZIP file to go into it.

Once there, long-press a file and “Select” it. You want to select all files, so after selecting, tap the three dots in the top right corner and use “Select All”.

Now, long-press any one of the selected files and use “Extract”.

From the window that pops up, extract all of the files to Main Storage/Stick Nodes/stickfigures/ and you’ll be good. Alternatively you can just extract the files “normally” and they will be located in the /Download/ folder. Leave them there and open Stick Nodes, it will scan the /Download/ folder like normal and find these files.

For iOS users, use an app like iZip. First, download and install the iZip app. Then proceed to download the ZIP pack file you want, open it with the iZip app. Extract the files from the ZIP. Upon clicking the NODES files that were just extracted, click “Open in” from the popup and select “Stick Nodes”.

This may not work if you have iOS 8 or older. In which case, it is recommended you update to iOS 9 or 10.

Thanks to Allerboy and Aamir Kabba for the iOS tip.

Q. When importing a stickfigure, the app is giving me an error message – what do I do?

A. If you’re importing a Pivot STK file, make sure the stickfigure was made with Pivot 2.2.7 or earlier (not Pivot 3 or Pivot 4, you can use Pivot 4 to re-save a stickfigure as a 2.2.7 file and then import that).

If you’re importing a NODES file, make sure your Stick Nodes app is up-to-date as this is most likely the issue. If you’re using an older version of the app, you may be trying to import a stickfigure that was made with a newer version of the app. As a result, your Stick Nodes app doesn’t know how to open the file.

Q. How can I share my animation (GIF or MP4)?

A. After exporting your animation as either a GIF or MP4 file, go to the Gallery/Camera Roll of your device. Find the file you just created and share it to any social network as you would with any other piece of media on your device. (Note you cannot share a GIF file to Youtube as it is not a video, read below to find out how to convert a GIF to a video file.)

Q. Why is my GIF animation not moving on my iOS device?

A. Stick Nodes will always export an animated GIF of your stickfigure animation. However, upon viewing these files in the iOS Gallery/Camera Roll, you’ll notice they won’t appear animated and will instead only display the first frame. This is only due to how iOS handles animated GIFs – it doesn’t support it. Your file is still animated, it just won’t appear that way. To see it animate, you’ll need to open it in your browser or view it as an attached file to an email – there it will animate. Better yet, just upload the file somewhere on the internet and view it there (from your browser), plus you can share the link with others so they can see it, too. You can even search for a “GIF viewer” app in the App Store and use that to view animated GIFs.

Q. How can I upload my animation to Youtube?

A. If you have the Pro version of Stick Nodes, simply export your animation as an MP4 file. Afterwards, go into the Photos/Camera Roll on your device and find this video file. From there, you can share it to Youtube just the same as you would with any other video on your device.

Now, if you only have the Free version, you’ll be limited by only being able to export a GIF file. After exporting, you’ll need to import this GIF into another app or desktop-based video-editing program and re-export it as a video file. You would then upload this file to Youtube.

Q. How can I add sounds/music/voices to my animation?

A. As of the 1.6.0 update, Pro users can add sounds to their animations from within the app!

For Free users, however, all is not lost. You can very easily take your exported GIF or MP4 files and import it into another app or desktop-based video-editing program. From there, you’ll more than likely be able to add sounds/music/voices and re-export your animation as a video file.

For desktop, programs like Windows Movie Maker, Flash, or iMovie would very easily do the trick. I’m sure there are also many apps like this as well.

Q. How can I delete stickfigures/projects/exports from my device?

A. As of the 1.6.0 update, you can delete stickfigures/projects from the import/open menus in the Stick Nodes app. To delete exports, go to the Camera Roll/Gallery on your device and delete them like any other photo/video.

Q. How can I remove an imported stickfigure from the library of my project?

A. There is no functionality for this at the moment. This is due to how Stick Nodes saves projects, it expects the library of imported stickfigures to stay intact and unchanged. This may change in a future update, but for now you’ll just have to ignore stickfigures that you’ve imported and no longer need.

Q. How can I add more sounds to import?

A. If you’re on Android, the app should automatically find compatible sounds in your /download/ folder (they must be MP3 and less than 256kb in size). So simply Google for a sound you want, download the file, then open Stick Nodes and go to import the sound – it should be there in the list if it satisfies the above criteria.

If you’re on iOS, you’ll need to use iTunes (and as a result, a computer – PC or Mac). On your computer, find the sounds you want (Google search) and download them. Connect your device to your computer and open iTunes. Click the icon for your device near the top, then click “Apps” on the left. Scroll down to “File Sharing”. From there, select “Stick Nodes Pro” in the list. Now, just drag the sound files you just downloaded into the iTunes list on the right (you’ll see all of your project files, stickfigure files, etc in that list).

Q. How can I create a ZIP (also how do I submit a ZIP or submit stickfigures)?

A. Creating a ZIP may not be necessary. If you’d like to submit a pack (ZIP) to the website but do not know how, just submit each stickfigure individually and include some type of message/hint that you’d like them to be part of a single pack in the name/description.

As for how to submit regular stickfigures, there’s a button in the app under “Library Tools”, click that, fill in the information, and you’re done.

Q. How do I export in high quality?

A. By default, Stick Nodes exports at a resolution of 640 x 360, which may not look great depending on what you want. If you want 720p on Youtube, for example, you’ll need to change this. When exporting a GIF or an MP4, simply change the resolution to 1280 x 720. It will take longer to export, but will look much better!

Q. If I buy Pro, do my projects and stickfigures carry over from the Free version?

A. On Android, yes. Stick Nodes Free and Pro both share the same folder.

On iOS you need to transfer the files yourself with iTunes. DO NOT UNINSTALL THE FREE VERSION UNTIL YOU’VE PERFORMED THIS TRANSFER.

After buying Pro, connect your device to a computer and open iTunes. Click the little device icon at the top and then click “Apps” on the left. On the new screen, scroll down to the “File Sharing” section and in the list you will see “Stick Nodes” and “Stick Nodes Pro”.

Go into “Stick Nodes” and select all of the project and stickfigure files from the list and save them to your computer (for example, just save them onto your desktop).

After, select “Stick Nodes Pro”. Now select all of the files you just saved (for example, from your desktop) and simply drag them over into the list. They will automatically be uploaded into your device.

5658 Comments

I am trying to get the mouths out of the month pack and for some reason when I try to open them in stick nodes I don’t get the option to open them in stick nodes….. I’ve spent hours on it and still don’t have one clue what to do help

Is this on Android? If so open the ZIP with Stick Nodes, Stick Nodes will open with a message “stickfigures imported”. Then go check the import list (maybe check all the way at the bottom, they may be prefixed with “zip_” alphabetically.

For iOS it’s more complex until the 2.0.2 update (soon), but just follow the directions on this page, are you?

Yeah sorry it’s complex. I’m going to soon add a button in the app which will allow you to email someone a project/stickfigure/sound to make this simpler.

For now you’ll need iTunes, connect your device to your computer. Open iTunes. Click the little device icon to the top. Go to “Apps”. Scroll down to “File Sharing”. See “Stick Nodes” in the list, click it. On the right are all of your projects/stickfigures. Grab the one you want and save it to your computer.

Need help again, im on iOS :/ and i dont have 2.0.0, i have several emails with sticks but i cant open them because theyre all made from authors with 2.0.0 meanwhile im on 1.8.2. Is there any resolution?

Ralph is it possible that you could add a login type thing to the website? I think it would be really cool if that were to happen. Also you could solve the problem of being behind of approving sticknodes characters by creating admin accounts and giving them to very trusted people.

Well it’s more than that. The stickfigures are in my email, what takes a long time is just going through them (and modifying/fixing if needed), then screenshotting, naming (make sure names don’t clash with existing figures).

Then uploading where I have to find the stickfigure again in my email in order to see the author’s name/description/etc.

But maybe some day I’ll have it be like NewGrounds, where “bad” submissions get blammed and deleted.

Ralph. Please respond. There has been a thing about a stick nodes “demon” basically where there’s a bunch of weird fx effects and smoke on the screen and then the default stick gets this weird face and it crashes. If you could tell me right now if this is true and you put it in on purpose, I’ll give you a cookie